The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Tribe tamed by Twins
Ervin Santana has a simple explanation for his early season success.
“I’m just trying to be me, trying to make it simple and have fun,” the Twins right-hander said after allowing two hits in seven innings as the Minnesota beat Cleveland, 1-0, in the first shutout against the Indians this season.
Miguel Sano’s first-inning home run provided the only offense Minnesota needed.
Santana (6-1) walked a seasonhigh five and struck out four, lowering his ERA to 1.50.
“He got in on our left-handers with his cutter and fastball,” Indians manager Terry Francona said.
“He has walks, but I’m not sure all of them are because he’s not commanding. I think he’s kind of navigating his way through the order.”
After Cleveland loaded the bases in the fifth on a single and two walks, Santana retired Edwin Encarnacion on an inning-ending flyout.
“Ervin has been giving us solid starts,” Twins manager Paul Molitor said. “He did have to battle tonight, but he kept the hit total down. The walks nearly got him a couple of times, so he had to make some pitches to get off the field.”
Taylor Rogers got the first out of the eighth, Matt Belisle finished the inning and Brandon Kintzler pitched a perfect ninth to complete the three-hitter and earn his ninth save in 10 chances.
Minnesota, the New York Yankees and Washington are the only teams that have not been blanked this season.
Cleveland, coming off a 4-5 trip, went 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position and stranded eight runners.
Sano homered to right with two outs in the first off Josh Tomlin (2-4), who gave up six hits, struck out seven and walked one in a season-high eight innings.
“I had a giant opportunity to hit a fastball away — and I did it,” Sano said. “When you’re confident and stay positive, you can do anything.”
Minnesota has homered in 13 consecutive games, its longest streak since 14 in a row in 1988. The Twins (1814) have won 10 of 14 and lead the AL Central after losing a major leaguehigh 103 games last season, when they started 8-25.
Santana was coming off his first loss this season, a start in which he allowed six runs in six innings against Boston on Sunday. He is 3-7 at Cleveland, including a no-hitter for the Angels on July 27, 2011 at Progressive Field.
Michael Brantley, in the Cleveland lineup after missing three games because of a sprained right ankle, singled in the first and again with one out in the eighth.